The facts
What tahitian Cultured Pearl actually is
The species behind tahitian Cultured Pearl is bead-nucleated cultured pearl from the black-lipped oyster Pinctada margaritifera, Aragonite nacre over a shell bead nucleus; it forms in the aggregate (orthorhombic aragonite) system.
Natural dark conchiolin pigment plus strong thin-film interference giving peacock, aubergine and pistachio overtones is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.52-1.69 and a specific gravity of about 2.61-2.78, with none cleavage.
Where tahitian Cultured Pearl comes from
Commercial material comes from Tuamotu and Gambier Archipelagos, French Polynesia (Manihi, Arutua, Rikitea), Cook Islands (Manihiki) and Fiji and the Sea of Cortez (Pinctada mazatlanica, a related product).
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How tahitian Cultured Pearl is treated
French Polynesia bans the export of pearls with nacre thinner than 0.8 mm and of dyed pearls declared as Tahitian, but dyed and irradiated 'Tahitian' pearls circulate widely from elsewhere. 'Chocolate' pearls are almost always bleached or dyed Tahitians. Treated-colour material is common enough that a report is worth it above a few thousand dollars. No CITES.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What tahitian Cultured Pearl is confused with
Watch for Dyed freshwater and akoya pearls, Bleached 'chocolate' pearls, Irradiated pearls and Imitation black shell pearls — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.52-1.69 and specific gravity 2.61-2.78 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What tahitian Cultured Pearl is used for
The trades that buy tahitian Cultured Pearl are jewellery. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat.
Durability and care
Hardness 2.5-4; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What tahitian Cultured Pearl costs
Expect roughly $80-1,500 per pearl for 9-12 mm; fine matched peacock strands $8,000-80,000, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is tahitian Cultured Pearl treated, and how?
French Polynesia bans the export of pearls with nacre thinner than 0.8 mm and of dyed pearls declared as Tahitian, but dyed and irradiated 'Tahitian' pearls circulate widely from elsewhere. 'Chocolate' pearls are almost always bleached or dyed Tahitians. Treated-colour material is common enough that a report is worth it above a few thousand dollars. No CITES.
Where does tahitian Cultured Pearl come from?
Tuamotu and Gambier Archipelagos, French Polynesia (Manihi, Arutua, Rikitea), Cook Islands (Manihiki) and Fiji and the Sea of Cortez (Pinctada mazatlanica, a related product). Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is tahitian Cultured Pearl hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2.5-4 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does tahitian Cultured Pearl cost?
Indicatively $80-1,500 per pearl for 9-12 mm; fine matched peacock strands $8,000-80,000. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is tahitian Cultured Pearl confused with?
Most often Dyed freshwater and akoya pearls, Bleached 'chocolate' pearls, Irradiated pearls and Imitation black shell pearls. A refractive index of 1.52-1.69 and a specific gravity near 2.61-2.78 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for tahitian cultured pearl?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about tahitian cultured pearl